For the past 10 days, movie theaters in Tamil Nadu have been functioning at 50% capacity owing to the second wave of COVID-19 in the state. Dhanush's Karnan which released only a day prior to the 50% implementation has done well in cinema halls, but the screen owners have taken a hit in other aspects.

Firstly if the audience are spotted without a mask or not sticking to social distancing protocols, it is considered theater owners flouting their SOPs and they end up being penalized with a fine. Owing to 50% occupancy back in place, Tamil movies are starting to backtrack in giving theaters their full priority i.e. Movies are not releasing or releasing in theaters and showing up on OTT within few days or directly going to OTT.

Tamil Nadu Theater Owners Association president Tiruppur Subramaniam told the media that so far 112 theaters in the state have permanently shut down. And the government's the new rule of no night shows and complete shut-downs on Sunday is pushing the remaining 200 theaters to the brink of going out of business. 

Hence movie theaters in Tamil Nadu are going on a complete shut-down and the association members are meeting o Tuesday to decide from when.